Trek to Chandekani Pass

This year i signed up for HEAT - Himalayan Environment & Adventure Trek (http://www.holidaymoods.net/heat.php). I did spend upto 25K for it. I am going to summarize the whole experience in this post.

Assumption - I have been to all tourist places thru car/bus and took some pics and returned. I never used to walk. I was under this assumption this would be a fun trip with 20-30% walk......Actually It is other way around....I had walked upto 50 Kms in 7 days i believe.....Ya I did finally :).....

Day1 - From Hyderabad to Delhi  by Flight

Day1 - Delhi to Manali by Bus. Roads are narrow, Lot of hair pin bends but volvo goes at maximum speed like driving in a plain....Sitting in the last row window seat I got scared couple of times..I could only take the below pic during the journey to Manali.

Day2 - On Reaching Patlikul village we went to our base camp. Rest in the camp and climbed a few meters (45mins walk) to see below river...

 

Day3 - Walked for 14kms for the day to visit jana falls. Way was hilly, plateau, villages, roads...It was good but I was tired already on my onward journey. Posting some nature pics during this trip

Day4 - Actually trek started today, This was the toughest day in my life. It was 7 kms. Carrying luggage on my back, hot sun, hilly area, rocks, uphill walk i was exhausted...I was also not feeling well due to stomach ache.....Some nature pics are captured below..We did witness rain with little ice cubes..

Day5 - Trek from Camp1 to Camp2. This was pretty easy compared to previous day experience. Some pics enroute posted below

Day 6 - This is the day where I saw snow, snow strom, Rain, Got wet almost 90%...Reaching Chanderkhani pass is the destination for the day. It was total 6 kms. When we reached the summit it started raining heavily and snow started filling our way. Our guide kudos to his execution and ability. He asked us to walk back asap to protect us from rain and keep our temperature warm by walking towards camp2.

Day 7 - Its all return journey from CAMP2 to Base Camp via Camp III. Covered 7 kms in one stretch. It took close to 6 hours. Captured below are some pics of the route.

Day 8 - We visited rotang pass in manali. First time in my life I witnessed vehicles overtaking at hairpin bends in Ghat road. Our driver was riding Chevrolet as F1 machine. The roads are very narrow but drivers showed no fear driving through it. Posting couple of pics

Day 9 - Shopping and back to delhi. Here are pics captured in delhi

Learnings from the Trek

• Life is far more comfortable before the trip. Trip made me recognize the comfortable life I am living
• Nature is too good, Good air, Weather enjoyed every bit of it for 1 week
• Hope I lost little weight
• Cold is tough for me to sustain, I am far better in chennai humidity climate than Zero degree temperature
• If you ask me if I am ready to take another trip...I might say 'May be' not 'Sure'....